Now, the thought of being with someone else - not just Megan, but anyone who wasn’t Chelle - just didn’t hold the same appeal. Or any appeal, when it came right down to it.
He needed to let Megan know that things had changed. Riley may be an ass in a lot of ways, but he never led women on.
--- ~ ---
After working three sixteen hour days back-to-back, Chelle normally would have wanted to go home and go straight to bed. But, since she had gotten home from San Francisco four days ago, her bed did not have the same appeal that it used to.
Every night since returning home, she had lain in her bed and tossed and turned. It felt so lonely and empty. Not because the man that she had shared it with for over a year no longer occupied it. David being gone didn’t bother her at all. Nope. She was having restless nights because of the absence of a man she had shared a completely different bed with for two (yep, that's right, ladies and gentlemen...two, count 'em, TWO) nights only.
It wasn’t even as if she had any memories of Riley in her own bed. But every night since she had been home and her head hit the pillow she just felt…empty. She tried snuggling with her body pillow. It didn’t work.
So when she had gotten a text earlier in the day from Sophie saying that Katie was home and declaring tonight ‘Girl’s Night Out’...well, she had figured - what the hell?! At least being out with her friends would be better than being at home. Alone. In a Riley-less bed.
Now, as she walked up the wooden steps of The Grill Bar, she thought she may have made the wrong choice. She was exhausted and had not been able to shake the bad mood she had been in since coming back home.
As she reached the top of the steps, she was very tempted to just turn right back around and head down again the way she had come up. Just get in her car, go home, and cry.
Yep, she thought with a sort of gallows faux cheerfulness, that sounds like a much better use of my Saturday night!
She was turning to leave when Sophie and her blonde curls bounded up the stairs, enthusing, “Yay! You’re already here! I was scared you wouldn’t come!” Her hands flew up in the air, “Girls Night, Woohoo!”
Reaching out and grabbing Chelle’s hand she pulled her through the sea of people until they reached the small VIP area. Chelle smiled. The small grouping of tables in the corner was the same one that they had sat at for Sophie’s bachelorette party a couple months back.
She saw a lot of the same faces there now as she had that night. There were Riley’s cousins, Haley, Krista, Jessie, and Becca Sloan - aka The Quad Squad. Sitting next to them was Amber and also some of Sophie’s friends from school. Chelle looked for Katie but didn't see her.
“Hey, is Katie running late?” Chelle asked after Sophie had ordered a round of shots.
“No, she said she was too ‘tired’ to come out tonight.” Sophie smiled and rolled her eyes, “But she didn’t sound ‘tired’ when I talked to her, if you know what I mean.”
Sophie waggled her eyebrows up and down.
Chelle knew exactly what she meant. And, truthfully, she couldn't blame her diamond friend. If she had the option of having a ‘Girl’s Night Out’ or staying at home with Riley, there would be no contest.
“But, hey, promise - if you’re not working tomorrow you have to come over. We’re having a BBQ for Jason and Katie. They’re the guests of honor so they have to show up to that one!” Sophie giggled.
“That sounds great,” Chelle smiled, “And, as it happens, I do have tomorrow off. What time should I be there?”
“Any time after one is great. Oh, and would you mind making your peanut butter fudge? It’s always a big hit. Please? Pretty pretty please?” Sophie batted her eyelashes.
“Sure, no problem!” Chelle laughed. She loved making people happy, and it was true - her peanut butter fudge did tend to make a lot of people happy.
Amber leaned in, “I can’t believe you didn’t stay home being ‘tired’ with Bobby tonight Soph.”
A blush rose on Sophie’s cheeks, “Well, Bobby had to work late. With Jason being gone the last couple weeks he’s had to put in some long hours. He texted that he’ll be home around 11.”
Amber looked at her watch, “Well, it’s 8:45 right now, so let me guess - you’re going to get ‘tired’ in about two hours.”
Sophie smiled, “It’s so weird, it’s like you’re psychic!”
They laughed and after some of the girls had taken shots, they all decided it was time to dance.
After about an hour of letting loose and tearing it up on the dance floor, Chelle and Amber dragged themselves back to the comfort of the black leather couches in the roped off area that Sophie had reserved.